Premiership favourite, Lucknow made short work of Lakes Entrance during round 17 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League, outclassing the Seagulls by 98 points at the Lucknow Recreation Reserve.
Lakes Entrance kicked with the advantage of the breeze in the first quarter, and did not take full advantage, as the Magpies kicked five goals to two, establishing a 21-point lead.
Lucknow still looked slick despite resting Link McKenna, Jess Glassborrow and Joel McNamara.
Lakes Entrance coach Darren Martin was disappointed with his side’s first term.
“We finally won a toss, and we lacked intent, we just thought the breeze would do the hard work for us, unlike our second quarter where we worked hard against it but the damage was done,” Martin said.
The Magpies kicked five goals to one in the second term, with the two big targets up forward, Jake Richards and John Gooch proving unstoppable, the Seagulls just not having the manpower to man them, as they both kicked seven goals each.
Lakes Entrance fell away in the second half, as Lucknow went into overdrive, kicking 10 goals to two, players not prepared to decrease their intensity, with spots in finals football up for grabs.
Martin was disappointed in his side’s performance but impressed by his opponent.
“We fell away badly in the second half, probably as bad as we have played for some time, but they are going to be hard to beat, with the two big forwards and the exciting ball movement,” the experienced Martin said.
Sean and Nick Mooney both kicked two goals each for the Magpies, while Ben Rotheram and Angus McKenzie contributed two each for the Seagulls.
Andrew Nelson was again outstanding for Lucknow across half-back, joined in the best players by Richards, Gooch, rising star Logan Croucher, and veterans Ashley Smith and Shaun Mooney.
Thomas Hudson, McKenzie, Sean Smith, Charlie Goold, Ben Richardson and Angus Stevens all battled hard for the Seagulls, Hudson has impressed in recent weeks
after missing a majority of the season with a back injury.
Goold and Stevens are youngsters who have thrived under the tutelage of Martin, who has taken plenty of positives from his first season at the helm.
“Injuries have really hurt us as the season has progressed, but we have still
kicked nearly 70 goals more than
last year, and the future looks bright at the Lakes Entrance Football Netball Club,” Martin said.
